John,
This week, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens announced he would step down, citing mounting editorial interference.
Owens said he was no longer allowed to run the show independently. That CBS executives were second-guessing editorial decisions. And that growing pressure from both President Trump and the network’s corporate owner, Paramount, had made it impossible to uphold the show’s journalistic standards.
We’ll explain the deeply distressing reason Paramount is destroying the reputation it took 60 Minutes half a century to build in just a moment—but first, we need to ask for your support.
With so many institutions caving to political pressure, supporting fearless, independent journalism has never been more important. At COURIER, we don’t answer to billionaires or corporate lawyers. And we don’t back down when the stakes are this high.
Chip in now to help fund independent newsrooms that will never bend to political intimidation.Here’s what’s happening:
It all started with a ridiculous $20 billion lawsuit Trump brought against CBS—because he didn’t like how 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris.
Since then, Trump has attacked 60 Minutes repeatedly, including a not-so-subtle Truth Social post urging his FCC to “go after” the show.
Owens’ resignation is the latest sign that Trump’s public pressure on Paramount is working.
And why? Because Paramount is trying to push through a multibillion-dollar merger—and they need Trump’s FCC to approve it.
Legacy media keeps folding and it's exactly why COURIER exists—and it's why we're asking for your support.
We are powered by readers like you—and committed to fearless reporting that holds power accountable, no matter who’s in the White House.
If you want an independent media network that won’t fold when Trump threatens it, chip in $25 today.
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In solidarity,
The COURIER Team